Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-04
/ Conquest or HruILITl.

/ Conquest Or HUHILITY
Two o'clock had been the hour set for
the wedding. II was now four. and the
bridegroom had not yet appeared The
relatives who had been hidden to the festiv-
tiles had been waiting impnticntly in the
two square front rooms of Maria Caldwell,
house, but now some had struggled out into
the front yard, from which they could look
up the road TO better advantage
They were talking excitedly shrill
feminine bahblc, with an undertone of ma
culinc bass hoatcd about the house and
yard. 1t had been swelling in volume from
mere whisper for the last half however
since Hiram Caldwell had set ont for the
bridesrooms house 10 ascertain the reason
for his hardness at his own wedding
Hiram. who was a young fellow. had got
ten into his shiny buggy with a red, mpor-
tant face. and driven off at a furious rate.
He was own cousin to Della Caldwell, the
prospective bride All the people assem-
BLEED were Ihayers or Caldwells, or cunncc-
tions thereof. The tardy hridcgronms
name was Lawrence Thayer
1t was a beautiful summer afternoon
The air was hot and sweet Around the
Caldwell house 1t was spicy sweet with
pinks there was IA great bed of them at
the foot Of the green bank which extended
under the front windows
Some of the women and young girls pull
ed pinks and shifted them as they stood
waiting Mrs. Erustu, Thayrr had stuck
two or three in the bosom oi her cinnamon
brown silk dress She -touI beside the
gate occasionally she craned her neck over
il and peered down the road The sun was
h..f 81. La
tai wrinkles shonr but she did not mind
See anything Of him 3" some one called
out
no I'm dreadful afraid somethin' has
happened
"Oh mother, what do you thinks hap
pened - asked "a Young girl at her side, hit
ting her with sharp rlhuw The girl was
young, slim and tall she stopped little
her pointed elbows showed redlv through
her loose white muslin sleeves her face
was pretty.
Hush, child | don't know, said her
mother
The girl stood staring at her with help
less awcd eyes
At last the woman IN cinnamon brown
silk turned excitedly about He, comm e"
she proclaimed, in IA shrll whisper
The whisper passed from one Ia another
Hes coming everybody repeated
Heads crowded together at the window all
the company was in motion.
1T amt Lawrence, said wumans
voice, disappointedlv. 1t amt nobudy but
his father, with Hiram
Sumethin hos h1pjened. repeated Mrs
Thayer The Young girl trembled and
caught hold Of her mothers dress her
eyes grew big and Wild Hiram Caldwell
drove up the road. He met the gaze Of
the people with "A look Of solemn cmbnrraSs-
ment. But he was not so important as he
had been. There was "A large. white head
eel old man with him, who drew the larger
share of attention He got lumbcringy
out Of the buggy when Hiram drew rein at
the gate Then hc proceeded up the gravel
walk Ia the house The people stood back
and stared No one dared speak to him
except Mrs Erastus Thayer She darted
before him in the path her brown silk
skirts swished
Mr. Thlyer." cried she, what is the
matter Do tell Us What has happened -
Where's Della p said the old man
'Oh, she : in the bedroom out Of the par
Tor. She 'aint been out vet Mr. Thayer,
for mercy's sake, what Is the matter
What has happened to him
David Thayer waved her aside and kept
straight ON, his long yellow face immovable,
his gaunt old shoulders resoutely braced
through the parlor. and knocked at IN. bed
room door.
A uervouslv shaking woman in black silk
opened il She screamed when She saw
him "Oh. Mr.. Thayer. its YOU, What is
the matter, where is he :" She pasped
clutching his arm.
A vouny woman in n pearl-colored silk
gown stood. straight and silent behind her.
She had a tall. fun figure. and ther. was
something grand in her attitude. She stood
like a voung pine tree. as if She had all nee
essarv elements of suuport i'm her own self
Her features were strong and fine. She
would have been handsome if her comulex
ion had been better. Her skin was thick
and dull
She did not speak but stood looking at
David Thaver Her month WINS shut tiCht
~. her eyes steady She miJht have bern
6raced 10 meet a wind
There were several other women in the
little room Mr. Thnver looked nt them
uneasily II want 10 see Della am her
mother. an nobody else said he finally
The vomsn started and looked at earb
other then they left The old man closed
the door nfter them and turned Ia Della
Her motber had hep,n In cry ooh dear
oh dear - She wniled II knew sometbin'
dreadful had bappened
Della - said he II don't know what
Won re coin 10 say. II amt very pleasant
for me to tell Won | wish This minnie Inw-
renee Tbaver didn't belong 10 me But
that don't better matters any He docs an
snmebodv's ynt Ia tell Won y
"Oh Is he deod ~ asked Delia's mother
brokenly.
mo. he amt dead. " said the old man
AN he nin't sick don't know of any
thing that aiIs him except he's a fool. lie
won't come-that's the whole Of it.
Won't come - shrieked the mother.
D.lin stood straight and stiff
"No. he won't come His mother an
have been talkiu' AM rensonin' with him.
hut il hasn't done nnv GOOD | don't knoy,
but il n Kin his mother It's all ON account
of that Bripgs girl. Won might ms well
know il Wish she'd never come near the
house. I've seen what Yny the wind blew
ro,. some time but | meyer dreamed il
Nould come Ia this think it's a sudden
start ON his mart | believe he meant Ia
come this noon. AS much ms could be lint
Olive came hnme mn they were talkin' IN.
yether i'm the narIor an / see she'd been
erwin His mother AM | got ready ami
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